Hinge for executive carrying case



April 2, 1963 LIFTON 3,

HINGE FOR EXECUTIVE CARRYING CASE Filed Sept. 2, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1the scope United States Patent 3,083,401 I-HNGEFGR EXECUTEVE CARRYENGCASE Lewis Litton, I151 l1V.'26th.St., New YorigNfiL Filed Sept. 2,195$,Ser. No. 758,252 7 Ciaiins. (Q1. 16*142) The present inventionrelates to an executive carrying case and itiparticularly relates to anexecutive carrying case which may be used bylawyers, travelers,businessmen and the like.

In executive cases the internal strut or hinge construction required tohold the case open is positioned on the interior of the cover and baseenclosure portion and when the case is opened sufficient space mustbele'ft for the swingingof the hinge or strut to hold the case open withits lid in elevated position and a similar amount of space must also beleft within the case when the case is closed so that there will not beinterference between the moving hinge and Sl'l'llli construction and thecontents,

papers, clothing or toilet articles which may have'been positionedinterior-1y of the executive case.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide a novelexecutive carrying case of the character above described in which thehinge construction will be removed from and positioned outside of theinterior of the case so as not to take space therewithin and also sothatit will be positioned upon the exterior of the case in anunobtrusive position without unduly increasing the bulk ,or weight .ofthe device and without affecting the desirable finish and appearance ofthe carrying case.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel carryingcase of the executive type which will have a novel hinge constructionwhich will serve't'o'hinge thecover and container or carrying caseportion together while at the same'tirne holding the .cover in elevatedposition when access is desired to the interior of the carrying case ofthe executive type or'to-permit the case to be set up on atable with thecarrying portion flat side down and the cover elevated to' give asemi-concealed filing cabinet from which papers may be removed orreinserted.

Another object of the present invent-ion is to provide a novel carryingcase with a hinge structure of the character above described which willunobtrusively serve as a convenient firm supporting hinge and at thesame time will hold the cover of an executive carrying .case in apredetermined elevated position to permit ready access to the interiorcontents thereof. I

Still further objects and advantages will appear in the more detaileddescription set forth below, it being understood, however, that thismore detailed descriptionis given by way of illustration and explanationonly and notby Way of limitation, since various changes thereinrna'y'bemade by those skilled in the art without departing from and spirit ofthe-present invention.

In accomplishingthe above'objects it has been found most desirable,according to one embodiment of the present invention, to provide twohingedly connected elementsof hollow channel-like stock witha'long'hin'ge element being attached to the carrying or, major caseelement and a short hinge element being attached to the cover elementand with the ends of the hinge elements being provided withprotuberances or support balls ,or domes formed integrally therein toact as legs-to support the case when closed'in elevated position.

Associated with the short hinged element will be a ridged followerprovided with a resilient biassing membet.

The. biassing member may be a coiled flat spring'memher which is roundedin overlapping coiled positionor spiral position so that its edges willbe below the side edges of. the channel-lil e or shell-likehingeelement.

The longer hinge element may be provided with a hinge element, it ispossible line 55 of FIG. 4, showing rounded integral hinge extensionhaving a recessed portion or flatted portion which will cooperate withsaid follower.

This follower is pressed bya spiral leaf spring to hold the cover in apredetermined separated angular position so that the cover element willbe automatically supported in elevated position away from the caseportion to permit ready access to such case portion when the cover isopened.

By properly positioning one or more recesses or flatted portions on thecircular or cylindrical hinge of the long to latch the open cover so asto cause said cover to latch-into one or more positions, depending uponwhether the cover is to beheld in one la-tched position orheldadjustably in a series of latched positions.

Essentially, the primary feature of the present invention resides .in.providing a follower or cam member which will latch on to or into aridge or groove in the hinge portion of the opposite hinge element.

This may be done by providing a single resilient member having aconformingridge orgroove which willpress itself against saidridgesorgroove-on the other hinge element.

However, in the preferred form of theinven'tion, there is a separatefollower having a ridge or groove and a separate biassing springpressing such ridge or groove against and toward the opposite hingeelement until it latches or locks in one position or into a number ofadjustedpositions.

The biassing member in the preferred form has a spring separate from thefollower and desirably a leaf spring formed in coiled position with thefollower being a similar bent strip of metal so that both may beconveniently lodged together insideof the short hinge member.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists ofthe novel construction, combination and arrangement of, partsas'hereinafter more specifically described, and illustrated-intheaccompanying drawings, whereinis shown an embodiment of the invention,but it is to'be understoodthat change-s, variations and-modificationsmay'be resorted to which fall within the scope "of the claims hereuntoappended.

In thedr'awings wherein like reference characters denote correspondingparts throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is artopplan view of theoutsideface of the hinge constructionwith the two hingeelements in the same plane in the position when thecoveriofthe. carrying case is closed.

FIG. 2 is an insideplan View uponian enlarged scale as compared'to FIG.1 of the, short. hinge element, showing the biasing spring andthefollower element.

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional viewupon ,the line 33 "of FIG. 2.,showing'the action of the. ridge onsthe follower and the groove on thehinge portion of the long hinge element, when out of latched position.

FIG. 4 is an inside elevational view similar to FIG. 2, showing theelements whenin latched position.

FIG.'5 is a transverse vertical sectional view upon the the hingedelements in latched position, :as when the cover is elevated at an angleofaway from the'case.

.FIG. 6-is a perspective view of thefollower member removed from theassembly of FIGS. 2 and 4.

FIG. 7 is a perspective View of the coiledspiral biasing spring removedfrom the assembly of FIGS. 2 and 4.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an exectuive type case in open positionshowing the-manner in-which the-hinge holds the lid so that theinterior. of the case is available for inspection and'filling purposes.

FIG/9 shows the case in closed position withthe container and coverportion closed together and the hinge used to support the case upon atable or floor as the case may be.

FIG. is a rear view of the carrying case showing the lid in openposition with the hinge holding the lid in such open position.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the hinge structureassociated with the carrying case when the lid is held in open position.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 5, there is shown a hinge construction having along hinge element A and a short fiat shallow box-like hinge element B.

The long hinge element A has a relatively flat outside face It) withopenings 11 and 12 having dished peripheral portions 13 and 14 withinwhich the heads of attachment elements may be received without undueprojection. The end of the element receives the dome or ball element 15formed integrally therewith as a leg element.

Referring to the inside face of the element A there are the side walls16 so that the interior face 19 is positioned below the edges of theside walls 16.

The center portion of the hinge edge of the element A is turned over atthe cylindrical portion 21 to form a recess for a hinge pin 17 or otherhinge connection.

The short hinge element B has the two side openings 22 to receivefastening elements with the dished peripheral portions 23. The hingeedge portion has the integrally turned-over cylindrical extensions 2-4which receive the same pin 17 which extends through the curled or cylindrical portion 21 of the element A.

The end of the short element B has the dome or rounded projection 25which is of the same height as the projection 15 so that they will standthe case flat upon the tabletop or floor, as shown in FIG. 9. a

The inside face of the short element B has the side walls 26 and the endcurved wall 27 so that the flat interior face will form the bottom of arecessed portion which receives the follower member Cand the springpresser member D.

The outside face of the short hinge portion B has a projecting lugelement 29 to clear the cylindrical hinge portion 21.

Referring to FIG. 6, it will be noted that the follower member consistsof a strip of metal having the base follower side 30, the sideextensions 31 and the two oblique top portions 32, all of which fitsecurely within the recess formed by the side walls 26 and 2.7 of theshort hinge element B.

The biasing overlapping coiled circular inside leaf spring element Dconsists of a leaf spring 33 overlapping at 34, which fits inside of thefollower member C with the side edges being of the same width as thewidth of the sides of the bent follower strip C.

vReferring to FIGS. 3 and 5, it will be noted that the inside edges ofthe circular leaf spring element-D rest upon and contact the embossedportions 23 around the openings 22, and that they terminate a shortdistance, as indicated at 35 in FIGS. 3 and 5, inside of the edge 36 ofthe flanges 26 and 27 which form the side of the hinge element B. I I

The side portions of the follower member at 37 will be held in positionby the indented or inturned edge portions 38 on the side walls 26 of thehinge element B.

Referring particularly to the perspective showing of the follower memberof FIG. 6, there is shown a ridge 39 along the side 30 which acts as thelatching element.

This latching element will cooperate with the recess 4% in thecylindrical portion 21 of the main long hinge element A.

When out of latched position, as indicated in FIG. 3, the ridge 39 willride on the smooth surface of the cylindrical portion 21.

However, in latched position the ridge 39 will latch into or lodge intothe recess 40 in the cylindrical portion 21. It will be noted that thetwo end portions 41 of the follower will normally contact each otherright at the apex d 42 between the curved side flanges of the shorthinge element B and directly inside of the dome 25.

The coiled follower spring D on the other hand will extend until its endportion 43 is lodged in the corner 44 of the follower member C.

The indentations 38 may also extend over, on to, and above the endportion 4-5 of the coiled spring to hold 1t in position, but normallyits resiliency against the inside faces of the sides 3%, 31 and 32 ofthe follower member C will be suificient to hold it in position.

The edge 46 of the projecting portion "29 will act as a stop against theoutside face 47 of the triangular projection or ridge 48 on the longhinge element A.

In actual usage, as indicated in FIGS. 8 and 9, the container or bodyportion E of the executive case has the cover element F and it may beclosed and stood in elevated position as indicated in FIG. 9 with thedomes 15 and 25 acting as legs.

Or it may be placed flat on a table with the cover F held in elevatedposition by the latch C, as indicated in FIG. 8, whereupon the interioris available for removing and filing papers and for inspection purposes.

The hinge A-B as shown is readily connected to the carrying case andwhen attached will not increase the bulk or the expense of manufactureand will readily hold the cover in one or more selected elevatedpositions and also hold the cover closed when the case is closed, asshown in FIG. 9.

As shown in FIGS. 8, l0 and 11, the cover extends upwardly at aboutright angles to the plane of the receptacle position, but the hingestructure of FIGS. 1 to 5 may be so constructed that the cover F will beat a greater or lesser angle to the plane of the container E than Anumber of said latch positions 39-4tl may be provided to give differentadjustments of the elevated cover when open.

The essential feature of the present invention resides in the flatbox-like element B which receives the leaf spring C of FIG. 6 inside ofwhich is located the overlapping coiled flat leaf spring D.

The open side of the flat box B is closed by cylindrical hinge element21 of the elongated structure A, and the boss 39 in the base of thespring C will latch in the recess 40 of the cylindrical extension 21 inthe open posi tion of FIGS. 5, 8, 10 and 11.

While there has been herein described a preferred form of the invention,it should be understood that the same may be altered in details and inrelative arrangement of parts within the scope of the appended claims.

As many changes could be made in the above executive carrying case, andmany widely different embodiments of this invention could be madewithout departure from the scope of the claims, it is intended that allmatter contained in the above description shall be interpreted asillustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of theinvention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, what isclaimed is:

1. An attache case having a deep rectangular container portion and ashallow rectangular cover portion, each having base rectangular portionswith outer edge contacting bottom, side and top walls and a hingestructure mounted on said bottom walls having a fiat shallow receptaclebox wtih three closed sides and one open side mounted on the bottom wallof the cover portion and an elongated hinge member with a curvedcylindrical male hinge element projecting beyond the edge of the bottomwall of the container portion and mounted on said bottom wall, a hingepin extending through said male hinge element and out and overturnedcylindrical hinge pin holding portions integrally extending from theopen side of the box and encircling and enclosing the ends of the hingepin on each side of said male hinge element; an intermediate pentagonalshaped flat leaf spring positioned within said box with its side and endlegs being pressed against the interior of the three enclosed sides andthe base leg being pressed against said male heinge element on the openside and an inside circular overlapping coiled leaf spring positionedwithin and having its side portions tangent to the legs and of thepentagonal shaped spring and means to latch the container portion andcover portion in 90 open position.

2. The case of claim 1, said last mentioned means including an elongatedprojection on the base leg and a recess receiving said projection atsaid 90 open position of the male hinge element.

3. The case of claim '1, said circular leaf spring tangentiallycontacting the end and base legs of said pentagonal shaped spring andhaving one end projecting to and received in the corner between the baseleg and one of the side legs of the pentagonal spring.

4. The case of claim 1, a portion of the box adjacent the open sidebeing turned outwardly and obliquely upwardly and acting as a stopagainst said elongated hinge member in said 90 open position when thelatching takes place.

5. The case of claim 1, the opposite closed side of said box beingslightly divergent away from the hinge pin and having inturned edgesadjacent the hinge pin to project over and hold said pentagonal springin position in the box and inturned projections from the base of the boxprojecting inwardly inside of the circular leaf spring to hold said leafspring in expanded position.

6. An attache case having a deep container and a shallow cover havingrear hinge sides and hinge means to hold the shallow cover in 90 openelevated position when open comprising shallow receptacle membersmounted in the rear hinge sides of the container and cover, a shortreceptacle member on said cover having a pentagonal outside springhaving a straight base leg with an outwardly projecting ridge and sidelegs turned inwardly toward one another and contacting each other at theside of the short receptacle away from the hinge and a rotatable hingemember projecting away from the container engaging said ridge and havinga latching means in respect to said ridge at its open position and anoverlapping circular leaf spring inside of said pentagonal spring tobias said base leg and side legs outwardly.

7. The hinge means of claim 6, said rotatable hinge member consisting ofa projecting coil portion of said container and a pin carried by saidcover member extending through said rota-table hinge member and saidstraight base leg normally being biased up against said circular springby said rotatable hinge member and said cover member having embossedportions locating said circular leaf spring and also having inturnededge portions holding said square spring in position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,083,140 Brantingson June 8, 1937 2,706,307 Anderson Apr. 19, 19552,874,401 Kotkins Feb. 24, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 362,528 Great BritainDec. 10, 1931 377,508 Great Britain July 28, 1932

6. AN ATTACHE CASE HAVING A DEEP CONTAINER AND A SHALLOW COVER HAVINGREAR HINGE SIDES AND HINGE MEANS TO HOLD THE SHALLOW COVER IN 90* OPENELEVATED POSITION WHEN OPEN COMPRISING SHALLOW RECEPTACLE MEMBERSMOUNTED IN THE REAR HINGE SIDES OF THE CONTAINER AND COVER, A SHORTRECEPTACLE MEMBER ON SAID COVER HAVING A PENTAGONAL OUTSIDE SPRINGHAVING A STRAIGHT BASE LEG WITH AN OUTWARDLY PROJECTING RIDGE AND SIDELEGS TURNED INWARDLY TOWARD ONE ANOTHER AND CONTACTING EACH OTHER AT THESIDE OF THE SHORT RECEPTACLE AWAY FROM THE HINGE AND A ROTATABLE HINGEMEMBER PROJECTING AWAY FROM THE CONTAINER ENGAGING SAID RIDGE AND HAVINGA LATCHING MEANS IN RESPECT TO SAID RIDGE AT ITS 90* OPEN POSITION ANDAN OVERLAPPING CIRCULAR LEAF SPRING INSIDE OF SAID PENTAGONAL SPRING TOBIAS SAID BASE LEG AND SIDE LEGS OUTWARDLY.